Japan Beat Australia To Qualify For World Cup 2018 In Russia

Japan have qualified for their sixth World Cup in succession as they beat Australia 2-0 with goals coming from Asano in the 41st minute and Ideguchi on the 82nd minute mark.

The Japanese join Brazil, Iran and host nation Russia as teams guaranteed to be playing in Russia 2018.

Both sides knew that victory assured them of qualification as they took to the field at the Saitama Stadium last night but it was Japan who took the spoils.

Australia should still qualify as they face bottom of the group Thailand in their final match. The Thai's lost 2-1 at home to Iraq, with all three goals being scored by the visitors.

Should Australia lose to Thailand, they will face a play-off match against one of the teams from Group A and then would have play another play-off against a nation from the CONCACAF region.

Coach Ange Postecoglou, will be hoping to avoid this scenario as Thailand travel to Melbourne on the 5th of September. Thailand have yet to win a match in the qualifiers but they did hold the Aussies to a 2-2 draw in their previous encounter.

Source: FIFA

Content: TPVS